The Big Five on an African Safari Holiday

For many first time visitors to Africa, a top priority is ticking off the so-called Big 5: lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino. Africa offers many excellent opportunities to do this with the Big 5 found in several countries. Countries in East Africa that call the Big 5 home is Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and in Southern Africa, it is South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

The Most Popular African Safari Holiday Destinations To See The Big 5

If you want the best chance of seeing them all on a single safari – then head to the following places:

The best places to see lions in Africa

Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Game Reserve in South Africa - with 50% of the free-roaming lion population in South Africa.

Moremi Game Reserve & the Khwai Concession in Botswana - large prides of up to 30 lions.

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania – with an estimate of 3,000 lions in the park.

Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya – the land of the Lion King.

South Luangwa National Park in Zambia - Luangwa Valley is home to Zambia's largest lion population.

Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania - been considered one of the best places on earth to see lions.

Okavango Delta in Botswana – with lions that are probably the largest lions on the planet. With Duba Plains probably one of the best places to see these cats.

Savuti in Botswana – with large prides known for attacking and killing elephants.

The best places to see leopard in Africa

Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Game Reserve in South Africa – for the best leopard sightings in South Africa.

Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana - an incredible destination for leopard sightings.

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania - a good place to see leopards.

Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya - the best place in Kenya to see leopards.

South Luangwa National Park in Zambia - incredible sightings of leopards.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya – where an ultra-rare black leopard was seen the first time in 100-years.

The best places to see elphants in Africa

Chobe National Park in Botswana – known as the land of the Elephants with the highest elephant population in Africa.

Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe - renowned for the large elephant herds.

Amboseli National Park in Kenya - famous for its iconic sightings of elephants with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.

Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa - offers some of the most spectacular elephant viewing in the world.

Mana Pools in Zimbabwe - known all over the world for their elephants that stand on their hind legs.

Tarangire National Park in Tanzania - home to the largest elephant population in northern Tanzania and offers excellent elephant sightings.

Etosha National Park in Namibia - said to be home to the tallest elephants in Africa.

Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania - definitely the place to go in Tanzania to see big tuskers.

Greater Kruger in South Africa which includes Sabi Sands and Timbavati Reserves – with frequent sightings of elephants.

The best places to see rhino in Africa

Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa - well known for close-up sightings of the rare black rhino.

Greater Kruger in South Africa which includes Sabi Sands and Timbavati Reserves - by far the largest population of rhinos in Africa with white and black rhinos.

Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa - both white and black rhino are found in the reserve with regular sightings.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya – with a good population of black and white rhino, sightings are very common.

Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania - the most reliable place in Tanzania to see rhinos.

Ol Pajeta Conservancy in Kenya – the only place where you can see the two last remaining Northern white rhinos on the planet.

Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya - one of the best places to see white and black rhinos.

Etosha National Park in Namibia - hosting a healthy population of black rhinos.

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania – with a small black rhino population in Northern Serengeti and white rhinos in Southern Serengeti.

Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana - black and white rhino have been re-introduced in the reserve, although sightings are still rare.

The best places to see buffalo in Africa

Chobe National Park in Botswana - still found in huge herds with up to 1000 can be seen together on the Chobe River floodplains during the dry season.

Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe - is famous for massive numbers of buffalo.

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania - it's almost a guarantee that you will see buffalo when you visit the Serengeti.

Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania - where herds of more than a hundred buffalo are a common sight.

Katavi National Park in Tanzania - Home to the largest herds of buffalo on the planet, sometimes referred to as super herds.

Greater Kruger in South Africa which includes Sabi Sands and Timbavati Reserves -

What else you can expect to see in an African safari wildlife park

You can expand your Big Five list to the Magnificent Seven, which includes two other elusive and popular animals: the African wild dog and the cheetah.

Best places to see African Wild Dogs: Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania, the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya and Kapama Game Reserve in South Africa.

Best places to see cheetah: Serengeti National Park and Ruaha National Park in Tanzania, the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa.

Then there is the SMALL FIVE! Comprised of five small animals that share names with the traditional Big Five. The Small Five in includes the Elephant Shrew, Buffalo Weaver (bird), Leopard Tortoise, Antlion and the Rhino Beetle. These are however quite difficult to spot on a safari. Everyone knows any wonder-filled safari can be ruined if your experience is not crowned by the right place to kick your shoes off.

If you are on safari in Kenya, don't forget to visit Northern Kenya to see the Special Five in Samburu Game Reserve! The Special Five is the Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy's Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Beisa Oryx and the Gerenuk.

There is also the UGLY FIVE! A real shame that they have been given this grouping, however, they are the underdogs on the African plains, but they have just as important role as any of the other African animals. The members of this exclusive grouping are Hyena, Wildebeest, Vulture, Warthog and the Marabou Stork. They are relatively common throughout Southern and eastern Africa.

Then there is the IMPOSSIBLE FIVE! These are very rare and pretty tricky to see. They are aardvark, Cape mountain leopard, pangolin, riverine rabbit and white lion (in the wild). Where to see them? Well, the term is almost impossible!

You also get the SHY FIVE! They are highlighting those more elusive and lesser-known species which include the largest rodent in Africa. The meerkat, aardvark, porcupine, aardwolf and the bat-eared fox. All are nocturnal animals, except for the meerkat, which makes seeing these animals even more challenging to spot yet rewarding when you do see them.  They are more easily found in sub-Sahara Africa in sandier areas such as the Kalahari. A couple of places which are renowned for these species include Tswalu Kalahari Reserve and Samara Game Reserve in South Africa.

When is the best time to see the Big 5?

The best time to be on safari is from about June to October across Africa. This coincides with the continent’s cool, dry weather.  During this time, it is easier to spot animals as during this period the vegetation dries up and thins out, making it easier to see rhino and buffalo. This season is also great to spot leopards as the trees as fever leaves. The lack of rain also means that waterholes and smaller water streams dry up, forcing animals to congregate around the remaining large lakes and rivers, making your changes to see the Big 5 even bigger.

Tips on what you should, and shouldn't, do in an African safari wildlife park



Whether it's your first time on safari or you're hundredth, here are things you never do on a game drive in an African Wildlife Park:

• Never shout or whistle or banging on the side of your safari vehicle to get their attention - this can spook them or may actually trigger a charge.
• Don’t feed animals.
• Don’t make wild movements such as standing up as you break the profile of the vehicle.
• Never attempt to approach any wildlife on foot.
• Don’t litter.

When you go on safari, your safety is always our priority. Always listen to your guide's recommendations and adhere to their instructions and safety advice.

Tailor-made African Safari Holidays



At eXplore Plus Travel & Tours, we specialise in putting together tailor-made holidays to Africa. We offer you the best African tour and safari packages including luxury, Big 5, family, safari for seniors, honeymoon packages and affordable holidays.

Are you ready to get face to face with the big five, small five, ugly five or impossible five?

Contact us today and let us help you plan your Big 5 African Safari Holiday!